EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — See you on Friday.

The Los Angeles Lakers couldn’t eliminate the Memphis Grizzlies in their first-round playoff series Wednesday, falling behind in a big way late in the second half before losing, 116-99, in Memphis.  

The Lakers still hold a 3-2 series edge and get another chance to end it Friday at Crypto.com Arena. They’ll want to avoid some mistakes they made in Game 5.

The Grizzlies’ backcourt of Desmond Bane and Ja Morant combined for 64 points and an impressive number for a pair of guards: 20 rebounds. Quite simply, they were the reason Memphis forced the Lakers into at least one extra game.

LeBron James scored 15 points and didn’t shoot well, perhaps the victim of fatigue and a quick turnaround from Game 4. He made only five of 17 attempts, including one of nine from 3-point range.

“Tonight I was [expletive],” James said. “And I’ll be better in Game 6.”

Later he added, “I was not very good at all.”

Is the 38-year-old tired?

“I’m good,” he said.

Despite coming into the night with a 3-1 series lead, the Lakers weren’t going to have an easy Game 5. The Grizzlies had the NBA’s best home record in the regular season, going 35-6 at FedEx Forum. And, sure, they had plenty of youth on their side, as the series shifted to games every other day.

The Lakers’ starting backcourt wasn’t nearly as impressive as their Memphis counterparts. Austin Reaves made four of 13 shots, while D’Angelo Russell made only four of 11.

“We had some guys that struggled from the field,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “It’s a make-or-miss league and you’ve got to make them when you have open looks.”

With all the misses, it wasn’t overly surprising that the Lakers trailed at halftime, 61-52, as James made only two of nine shots, and Russell scored only two points.

Russell awoke briefly in the third quarter, scoring eight quick points and helping the Lakers move within 75-74 with 4:36 left in the third quarter.

But the Grizzlies soon went on a 19-2 run to end the third quarter and take an 18-point lead. Then they scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.

“I think they had just more of a sense of urgency during that run,” Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt said, pointing to Memphis earning too many offensive rebounds and also the so-called 50-50 balls. “Outside of that one stretch, I think we had a pretty good game.”

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for LA. Forward Anthony Davis shook off a sore hip to post a solid line of 31 points and 19 rebounds. He was the only Laker to make an impact on offense.

(An aside for Dillon Brooks haters: He wasn’t the reason Memphis won. James’ new nemesis had only eight points on shoddy three-for-15 shooting.)

Regardless, the Lakers definitely don’t want to return to Memphis for a Game 7 on Sunday.

“Hell no,” Russell said. “Just protect home [in Game 6], simple as that.”